Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 10 May 2016 and of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 24 May 2016 (herewith).

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Annual Council held on 10 May 2016 and of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 24 May 2016 were confirmed and signed.

The Mayor to report apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Kevin Deanus, Jim Edwards, Brian Ellis, Patricia Ellis, Ged Hall, Jill Hargreaves, Nicholas Holder, Denise Le Gal, Peter Martin, Kika Mirylees, Sam Pritchard, Wyatt Ramsdale, Simon Thornton and Ross Welland.

To receive from Members, declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

Cllr Mary Foryszewski declared a non-pecuniary interest in Executive Minute No. 31 regarding the Local Plan as Chairman of Cranleigh Parish Council, former Chairman and continuing member of the Cranleigh Parish Planning Committee.

Cllr Pat Frost declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Surrey County Councillor.

Cllr Martin Lear declared an interest in Executive Minute No. 37 regarding the Bourne Recreation Ground as Chairman of the Recreation Ground Committee.  He left the meeting during consideration of the item.

The Mayor reported that he had attended 66 events since his appointment, ranging from an attendance at Weydon School for the performance of Les Miserables to the unveiling of a cow in the High Street, Godalming.

The Mayor had held his Civic Service which he had thoroughly enjoyed and he thanked those who had come along.  He informed members that he had a friend riding the Prudential 100 mile on 23 July and that any sponsorship would be welcomed.

To answer the following question from Mr Bob Lees, Chairman of the POW Campaign, received in accordance with Procedure Rule 10:-

“During the reviews and discussions of the draft Local Plan, the provision and funding of required infrastructure essential to support delivery of the Local Plan has come up on a number of occasions. An Infrastructure Delivery Plan has been referred to, but is still not available. In order to encourage development the Government has extended the Garden Towns and Cities scheme to encompass Garden Villages.  The Garden Village scheme provides for new free standing and sustainable developments in the 1,500 to 10,000 house size.  Certainly from a size if not sustainable perspective, it would appear that this Garden Village scheme is targeted at developments such as that proposed at Dunsfold Aerodrome.  Although the scheme closes for applications on July 31st it has been open since March this year.  Has Waverley Borough Council submitted the proposed Dunsfold Aerodrome development for inclusion in the Garden Villages scheme in order to benefit from some of the Government infrastructure money that would accompany a successful application?  And if they have not then why haven’t they done so, and what alternative funded plans are in place to provide the required infrastructure?”

[NB.    Questions from members of the public express personal views of the questioners and Waverley does not endorse any statements in any way and they do not reflect the views of Waverley Borough Council].

The following question was received from Mr Bob Lees, Chairman of the POW Campaign, in accordance with Procedure Rule 10:

“During the reviews and discussions of the draft Local Plan, the provision and funding of required infrastructure essential to support delivery of the Local Plan has come up on a number of occasions. An Infrastructure Delivery Plan has been referred to, but is still not available. In order to encourage development the Government has extended the Garden Towns and Cities scheme to encompass Garden Villages.  The Garden Village scheme provides for new free standing and sustainable developments in the 1,500 to 10,000 house size.  Certainly from a size if not sustainable perspective, it would appear that this Garden Village scheme is targeted at developments such as that proposed at Dunsfold Aerodrome.  Although the scheme closes for applications on July 31st it has been open since March this year.  Has Waverley Borough Council submitted the proposed Dunsfold Aerodrome development for inclusion in the Garden Villages scheme in order to benefit from some of the Government infrastructure money that would accompany a successful application?  And if they have not then why haven’t they done so, and what alternative funded plans are in place to provide the required infrastructure?”

The Leader of the Council responded as follows:-

“Thank you for your question Mr Lees. Yes, council officers are actually in the process of preparing an expression of interest in relation to the government’s garden villages scheme and this relates to the Dunsfold Aerodrome settlement. This recognises that a settlement of 2,600 dwellings and a retained and expanded business park with around 26,000 square metres of additional employment and commercial floorspace forms part of the Council’s draft Local Plan.

Some of the potential benefits of this garden village scheme, as set out in the Government’s prospectus to which you refer, include access to Government housing funding streams and ensuring that the local authority has the right skilled staff in place, or payment for key studies and assessments to support overcoming various barriers to delivery.

We understand that the support offered would be tailored to the specific needs of the Council, if we are successful. The expression of interest will be on a strictly without prejudice basis to the future determination of the current planning application for a new settlement at Dunsfold. However, an application needs to be made now to avoid missing the opportunity to bid for the community and the infrastructure benefits that could be forthcoming if the settlement is approved.

The expression of interest has the support of the landowner and will be submitted to be received by the Government deadline of 31 July 2016. Thank you”.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Executive (coloured grey):-

It was moved by the Chairman of the Executive, duly seconded and

RESOLVED  that the Minutes of the Executive held on 7 June 2016 be approved and the recommendations contained therein adopted.

It was moved by the Chairman of the Committee, and duly seconded that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 12 July 2016 be approved and adopted.

i.          Waverley Borough Local Plan Part I: Strategic Policies and Sites (Minute No. 31)

            It was proposed by the Leader of the Council and seconded by Cllr Mike Band that the wording of Recommendation 16 be amended, with the addition of the text identified in bold and italic type, to now read:-

16.       The Local Plan Part I, together with the Key Findings of the Draft Sustainability Appraisal (Annexe 3), the Local Plan Draft Infrastructure Delivery Schedule (Annexe 4), the Schedule of Proposed Amendments and the observations from the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Annexe 5), be approved for publication and to confirm that all other evidence bases and documents referred to will be published at the same time as the plan.

            The amendment was CARRIED.

            When the Council moved to the recommendations, as amended, it was moved in accordance with Procedure Rule 17.4 that a recorded vote be taken on this item.  The voting was taken by roll-call as follows:-

            For (37)

            Cllrs Brian Adams, Mike Band, Andrew Bolton, Maurice Byham, Carole Cockburn, David Else, Jenny Else, Mary Foryszewski, John Fraser, Pat Frost, Michael Goodridge, Tony Gordon-Smith, John Gray, Val Henry, Christiaan Hesse, Stephen Hill, Mike Hodge, David Hunter, Simon Inchbald, Peter Isherwood, Anna James, Carole King, Martin Lear, Denis Leigh, Andy MacLeod, Tom Martin, Stephen Mulliner, Nabeel Nasir, Libby Piper, Julia Potts, David Round, Jeanette Stennett, Stewart Stennett, Chris Storey, Bob Upton, Liz Wheatley and Nick Williams.

            Against (none)

            Abstentions (3)

            Cllrs Robert Knowles, Stefan Reynolds and Richard Seaborne.

            The recommendations were agreed.

(ii)        Memorial Hall Redevelopment (Minute No.33)

            Cllrs John Fraser and Andy MacLeod requested that their votes against the recommendations be recorded.      

(iii)       Report of the Constitution SIG (Minute No. 34)

            Cllr John Fraser requested that his vote against Recommendation 26 be recorded.

[NB Cllr Martin Lear left the meeting prior to the commencement of consideration of Minute No. 37 due to his interest in the matter as Chairman of the Recreation Ground Committee]

RESOLVED  that the Minutes of the Executive held on 12 July 2016 be approved and the recommendations contained therein adopted, as amended.

To receive the minutes of the Standards Panel held on 13 June 2016 (coloured buff).

It was moved by the Chairman of the Panel, duly seconded and

RESOLVED  that the Minutes of the Standards Panel held on 13 June 2016 be approved and the recommendation contained therein adopted.

To receive the minutes of the Audit Committee held on 21 June 2016 (coloured lilac).

It was moved by the Chairman of the Committee, duly seconded and

RESOLVED  that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Audit Committee held on 21 June 2016 be approved and the recommendation contained therein adopted.

To receive the minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on 7 July 2016 (coloured bright green).

It was moved by the Chairman of the Committee, duly seconded and

RESOLVED  that the Minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on 7 July 2016 be approved and the recommendation contained therein adopted.

Planning permission was granted under WA/2015/0499 for the erection of a detached double garage at Hurlands, Hurlands Lane, Dunsfold. The siting of the garage was proposed across a Public Footpath (Public Footpath 298). The application was considered to be acceptable, and was subsequently approved under delegated powers. The approval was subject to 6 conditions. Condition 6 states:

"The granting of the planning permission does not convey approval to obscure public footpath 298, which would be an offence under separate legislation. This development hereby permitted may not commence on site prior to securing a legal order under Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to divert public footpath 298”

The applicants have now sought this legal order under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and under the Council’s constitution, diversion of public rights of way need to be approved by the Council.

Recommendation

It is recommended that, pursuant to Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), authorisation be granted for the diversion of footpath 298 to enable the development granted planning permission under reference WA/2015/0499 to commence.

RESOLVED  that, pursuant to Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), authorisation be granted for the diversion of footpath 298 to enable the development granted planning permission under reference WA/2015/0499 to commence.

Following the resignation of Cllr Stewart Stennett from the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, to approve the appointment of Cllr Anna James to take his place on the Committee.

RESOLVED that Cllr Anna James be appointed to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee to replace Cllr Stewart Stennett following his resignation from the Committee.